New country radio station in town

Straits Country 95.3 FM is licensed by the FCC to operate as WWSS, Tuscarora Township. The radio station's owner, Dave Smith, said Thursday his programming fills a need in the Northern Michigan market.“This is a brand new radio station,” Smith said. “Straits Country 95.3 plays today's new country and also old time favorites.”

INDIAN RIVER — Country music is now being beamed into Northern Michigan from a new transmitting base near Indian River.

Straits Country 95.3 FM is licensed by the FCC to operate as WWSS, Tuscarora Township. The radio station's owner, Dave Smith, said Thursday his programming fills a need in the Northern Michigan market.

"This is a brand new radio station," Smith said. "Straits Country 95.3 plays today's new country and also old time favorites."

The station went on the air July 31 and is primarily aimed at adults aged 35-64. It broadcasts from a tower in Tuscarora Township, just east of I-75 and Indian River.

"Broadcast studios are located outside of Vanderbilt and in the spring they will be in the Straits Area," Smith said. The signal goes from Sault Ste, Marie, Mich., to Grayling and from Petoskey across to Alpena, but we are strong into Cheboygan, Petoskey and Mackinaw City.

In addition, Smith said that his new signal is about more than just music,

"We do Indian River sports — we did all the football games and will also carry some Onaway, Alanson, Pellston and Mackinaw City games," Smith explained. "We currently have information for the area but we may add news, too. We are always doing promotions — we broadcast every week from the Straits and broadcast live from Mackinac Island this summer."

Smith described the station's format as "personality driven" with both satellite and local personalities on the air.

"At this point it is 20 percent local, and as it grows it could change dramatically," Smith said. "We love this area and we love Northern Michigan."